8th Annual Steak and Burger Dinner

Ray Drew, guest speaker for the 2011 8th Annual Steak & Burger Dinner is a former Boys & Girls Club member.

Ray Drew, Special Guest Speaker for the 2011 8th Annual Steak & Burger Dinner, had quite a media storm surrounding him while being recruited by some of the top schools in the country. His announcement that he had accepted the offer by the University of Georgia's football coaching staff thrilled UGA fans across South Georgia. We wish you all the best, Ray! We will be watching you! Thank you for sharing such a powerful message of hope and determination with our guests.

Ray Drew was able to speak with Marguerite Neel Williams Boys & Girls Club members the afternoon before the dinner. Ray is an exceptional young man and  powerful role model for our Club members.

Randy Young, Director of the Broadcast & Video Production Department of Thomas County Central High School, and a local sports announcer, introduced the guest speaker, Ray Drew.

Dr. Jimmy Clanton, local veterinarian and member of First Baptist Church, gave the invocation for our dinner. Thanks, Dr. Clanton!

Keith Wortman, MNW Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Georgia Board of Directors' Member, at the table sponsored by TECT, along with Boys & Girls Club Member Mahalia Brown.

Bob Hutchison, local State Farm Insurance Agent and President of the Marguerite Neel Williams Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Georgia's Board of Directors, gives one of our Youth Center Members a hug. Each table at the 8th Annual Steak & Burger Dinner was hosted by one of our Youth Center Members and one of our Teen Center Members.

We loved holding the 8th Annual Steak & Burger Dinner at our facility. It gave us a chance to show our supporters what an awesome place they have provided for our Club Members.

We were honored to have our Mayor, Camille Payne, at the dinner. Some of our Marguerite Neel Williams Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Georgia Youth and Teen Center Members posed with Mayor Payne during the event.

Lee Wagner, Executive Director of the Marguerite Neel Williams Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Georgia, introduced our Youth of the Year, Kevin Nixon, to our guests.

The concept of our Annual Steak & Burger Dinner is that the young people eat steaks and adults eat burgers. There is a tendency, however, for the children to trade their steaks for burgers. Two of our Club members, one from our Youth Center and one from our Teen Center, host our guests at each table. Our table sponsors and guests can meet and get to know the Club members that they help support.

The Men's Fellowship Group of Gatlin Creek Baptist Church donated their grills, time and chef talents to grill the steaks and burgers for the 2011 8th Annual Steak & Burger Dinner. Charles Willingham, owner of Willingham Electric and member of the Men's Fellowship Group, organized the efforts of the group. Thank you, guys! The steaks and burgers were delicious!

Pastor James H. Banks, Jr. of Mt. Zion AME Church of Bainbridge and Emmanuel AME Church of Dixie provided music for the Steak & Burger Dinner. He is a talented musician and has graciously provided music for many years for our annual event. Thank you, Pastor Banks!

Ray Drew posing with John and Lori Everett and their son, Anderson, age 6. Lori and Whitney White are chairpersons of the Steak & Burger Planning Committee. They are both instrumental in planning and implementing the Steak & Burger Dinner each year. Both Lori and Whitney are Marguerite Neel Williams Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Georgia Board of Directors members. John Everett loaned us several University of Georgia helmets and footballs - prized possessions - to display on Ray's table at the dinner. Ray is a future UGA football player, after all! Thank you, John and Lori, for your support!

Anderson Everett, son of John & Lori Everett, poses with University of Georgia Bulldog recruit, Ray Drew.